Malawi artist Mike Akitivi keeping it local from Dublin

What kind of music do you expect from a new artist who is trying to launch a professional music career from outside their homeland, specifically in Republic of Ireland?

Mike Akitivi

Mike Akitivi Christina artwork

While other Malawian musicians based overseas have chosen to go “international” in their music, focusing on genres such as Hip Hop and RnB, Mike Akitivi has chosen to keep it fully Malawian.

The Dublin-based singer, two weeks ago released a song “Christina” which features one of Malawi’s multitalented artists – singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer Lulu.

The Afro dance song sees the Lilongwe-bred musician maintaining the Malawian touch that has seen him winning the hearts of many Malawian music lovers not only back home but abroad.

“Christina”, which was released on radio in Malawi and on the internet on 16th February, is becoming an anthem among Malawians in different social gatherings both in the diaspora and back home.

The radio play and online downloads has seen the new artist on the scene ascending to number five in the Top 20 of the most downloaded songs on Malawi-music.com this week, with hip-hop artists Gwamba on positions one and two, Martse on three and DJ Sley on position four.

“It is extremely exciting to see such an overwhelming response from music lovers both here in the UK and back home. This is encouraging and it gives me courage to engage an extra gear because I want to take my music to another level, having albums and all,” says Mike Akitivi.

The musician, born Mike Yasini, revealed that he was working on a music video which if all goes according to plan will be released before the end of the March.

“We wanted the video to be out as soon as possible but having Lulu on the song means he has to do his part back in Malawi and I do my part here, so it will take time to put all that stuff together,” explains Akitivi. “But we should have it before the end of March.”

“Christina” is a song that many single young men can relate to. Akitivi sings about an unmarried man who is far away fromhomewhere he has found the love of his life and is telling his uncle and relatives back home that he is now ready to settle down after meeting the ideal girl who has captured his heart.

I dont know how he is keeping it local in Ireland when the song was produced and released in Malawi. The audience for such song is less than 100 people in Ireland and these are the usual Malawi girls who are prostituting in Ireland. Is he so stupid that he cannot do a small market research, and dont talk about UK just stick to prostitutes you are entertaining in Ireland